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A-Teams to Discuss Council Programs, Direction at Annual Meeting

Members and stakeholders are encouraged to attend.

Jul 04, 2011

Members of the U.S. Grains Council's Advisory Teams will examine the Council's current year initiatives and programs, providing input and direction, while setting the stage for future years at the Council's 51st Annual Board of Delegates Meeting coming up July 25-27 in San Francisco, Calif.

"The A-Team sessions are an important component of our annual meeting. They provide an opportunity for members and stakeholders to gather together, meet with staff and examine the final Unified Export Strategy that was submitted in May," said Rick Fruth, USGC past chairman. "Members help shape the initiatives and at the same time identify opportunities for the future."

The UES is the Council's marketing plan blueprint that includes an analysis of the potential within each foreign market. It is created by Council members and global staff each year to be submitted to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Foreign Agricultural Service to secure federal matching funds.

"An examination of market potential and the development of programs to reach that potential is essential as we continue to produce big crops and related feed ingredients like distiller's grains," Fruth said. "USDA indicated today that we have an opportunity for another record corn crop this year, underscoring the importance of looking beyond the borders of the United States for market opportunities for U.S. feed ingredients."

A-team meetings happen on Monday, July 25 during the annual meeting, and Fruth encouraged members and stakeholders to attend and provide input.

"The best programs and plans come from ideas and understanding generated at A-Team meetings," he said. "Together we can be more successful in our efforts to Develop Markets, Enable Trade and Improve the Lives of people around the world."

USGC Chairman Terry Vinduska says this meeting will allow producers to hear firsthand from leaders from government, industry and science from around the world. They will examine how U.S. farmers and agribusinesses can meet global demand by growing more with less; hear directly from the new companies and countries that are driving international demand; analyze the increasing global concern and guide approaches to food security and how they affect demand; and more.